What Is the Probability of Drawing a Four-of-a-Kind in a Five-Card Poker Hand?

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SUMMARY

The probability of drawing a four-of-a-kind in a five-card poker hand is calculated using combinatorial methods. The correct probability is derived from the formula 13x48/(C(52, 5)), which evaluates to approximately 2.4e-4. The initial calculation presented in the discussion, which yielded approximately 4.8e-5, incorrectly assumed the arrangement of suits rather than values. The error was clarified by recognizing that there are multiple arrangements of the cards that yield the same outcome, specifically five arrangements for the different suit card.

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52 cards, 13 values (A to K) and 4 suits. what's the probability of getting 5 cards with a four-of-a-kind (same value)?
My solution: first card 52/52, second 3/51, third 2/50. fourth 1/49, fifth 48/48
so (52/52)*(3/51)*(2/50)*(1/49)*(48/48)~4.8e-5
The solution provided by the book 13x48/(C 52 5)~2.4e-4
My solution is 1/5 of the answer. Did I miss something? I think both ways of solving it make sense

Thanks
 
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Your solution is the probability that the first four cards dealt are from the same suit and the fifth card from a different suit. It is easy to show that the probability of "second, third, fourth, fifth cards from the same suit but first card from a different suite", "first, third, fourth, fifth cards from the same suit, second card from a different suit", etc. are the same. That "different suit" card can be anyone of the five cards dealt so the value you got is multiplied by 5.

More formally, there are [tex]\begin{pmatrix}5 \\ 1\end{pmatrix}= 5[/tex] ways of arranging five things, four of which are the same.
 

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